Whigmi Traihead Restrooms Listed in CIP

The old restrooms from Talkeetna’s downtown park are meant to be repurposed at the Whigmi Trailhead when funding becomes available.

The restrooms are listed in the fiscal year 2025 capital improvement program, or CIP. The Mat-Su Borough Planning Department creates a short list of projects each year, some of which are nominated by communities and others by Borough departments. The Whigmi Trailhead restroom project was nominated by the Community Development Department.

Planning and Land Use Director Alex Strawn says that projects included in the CIP must have a useful life longer than five years, cost more than $20,000, and be identified in one of the Borough’s comprehensive plans. The CIP is a planning document for the next six years. Strawn stresses that a project’s inclusion in the CIP does not guarantee funding. 

Of the 17 projects nominated for inclusion, nine will move forward for Assembly approval on January second. All nine are associated with recreation areas. According to the backup documents provided at the December Assembly meeting, the total cost to fund all nine projects is $2.7 million. 

The resolution to pass the CIP does not obligate the funding, but does allow the Borough to spend funds on projects included in the CIP. Strawn says that community support is a major factor in helping the Assembly determine which projects move forward. The Borough Assembly will vote on next year’s CIP at the January 2nd meeting.